Elon Musk’s recent rant about Apple’s partnership with OpenAI at WWDC 2024 has sparked widespread attention and debate. Musk took to his platform, X, to express his concerns about Apple integrating OpenAI at the OS level, calling it an “unacceptable security violation.” He even went as far as saying that he would ban Apple devices from his companies if this integration were to happen.
However, Musk’s criticisms seem to be missing the mark, as Mashable’s Chris Taylor points out. Contrary to Musk’s claims, the integration of ChatGPT into Apple’s operating systems does not involve ChatGPT being baked into the OS itself. Instead, ChatGPT will be integrated into Siri and various apps and features like Messages, Mail, and Compose that work with Siri. Apple has emphasized that no user information is shared without permission, and privacy protections are built-in when accessing ChatGPT within Siri and Writing Tools.
Moreover, Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, assured users that they have control over when ChatGPT is used and will be asked for permission before any information is shared. Integration of ChatGPT will be available in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia later this year. Apple’s commitment to privacy and user control is evident in their collaboration with OpenAI.
Musk’s strong reaction to the partnership may stem from his own plans for AI across his platforms. Musk is developing his AI chatbot called Grok and has recently raised $6 billion in funding for his startup, xAI. It’s possible that Musk sees Apple’s collaboration with OpenAI as competition or a threat to his own AI endeavors.
It’s worth noting that this is not the first time Musk has clashed with OpenAI. In March of this year, he filed a lawsuit against the company despite being one of its early investors. Musk’s history with OpenAI and his ongoing AI projects may contribute to his strong stance against Apple’s partnership.
Overall, while Elon Musk’s concerns about privacy and security are valid, Apple’s collaboration with OpenAI seems to prioritize user control and privacy. The integration of ChatGPT into Apple’s ecosystem offers convenience and enhanced AI capabilities while respecting user consent. It remains to be seen how this partnership will unfold, but it’s clear that both Apple and OpenAI are committed to protecting user data and privacy.
